Russell Crowe is pushing for a sequel to his 2003 movie Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World - he wants fans to bombard studio bosses at 20th Century Fox with messages to back his campaign. The Gladiator star is keen to reprise his role as Jack Aubrey in the film based on the Napoleonic Wars.
He's posted a message on Twitter.com in a bid to garner support from his fans to help resurrect the film.
He writes, "If you want a Master and Commander sequel I suggest you e-mail (film executive) Tom Rothman at Fox and let him know your thoughts."
Crowe's appeal has already worked - a Fox spokesperson has revealed the company has so far been inundated with requests for the movie and admits staff are now looking into the prospect.

In a post on Twitter.com, the representative writes, "Getting a lot of tweets about Master & Commander sequel, I'll look into it (I'd love one, too, but as you all know a LOT goes into it.)"

I'll probably incur much wrath now but to be honest I didn't think that much of the first film. I thought Mr Crowe made a really good gladiator but he's not my Jack Aubrey. And although he was good neither did the actor that played Maturin suit me. I actually pictured the actor that played Frank Black in Millenium as the Doctor. Recall the physical descriptions of the doctor and tell me I'm wrong.

As an example I read The Lord of the Rings when quite young but was tremendously impressed by the films. I thought the actors superbly matched to the charactors in a way that was sadly lacking in Master & Commander._________________Neither Kings nor Queens nor Royal Marines but 28th. Old Bragg's. Brass before and brass behind never feared a foe of any kind.

I thought Crowe made a decent fist of Aubrey, one of his better accents too, firmly anchored in one place, but I have to agree with you that the Maturin casting could have been better. Just googled the bloke you mentioned and see its Lance Henrikson, who I agree is more suitable. I'd like someone even shorter and a bit more mis-shapen, Lance Henrikson is still sort of good-looking and Maturin should be distinctly un-prepossessing until he whips his lancet out._________________ † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † † †Rifleman LaLa
I'm part of the problem

I personally thought Paul Bettany was an excellent Maturin, but then he is one of my favourite actors. I think Eva Green would be a great choice for Villiers if they went down that route.

I think it more likely that they would try and keep the format of the previous film, keeping the vast number of scenes on ship and the action focused against one ship or squadron. At a guess i think they might try and create a composite, maybe using Post Captain, HMS Surprise and Mauritius Command. That way they could recapture the adventure story and exotic locations (India?) of the first._________________History will be kind to me for I intend to write it

I think that one of the problems with the Aubrey series is that much of it focusses on the War of 1812. While I'd love to see him tackle the Americans, I'm not sure an American audience would be comfortable with them being the enemy. Aubrey was always impressed with the Americans abilities, but I think the producers wouldn't want to tackle the problem of having their main character or the Americans be the ultimate loser.
On the other hand, perhaps it was just me, but I had a lot of trouble figuring out how they got that movie out of any of the books. It didn't really seem to fit any of the stories well, so maybe they could just take the characters and put them in a new scenario.
Oh, and you have to have a love story so that women get something out of it too!

What! The Americans not comfortable with playing the villains ? You mean like the slimy job Mel Gibson did on the British army in Patriot? It might be a good name for a Jeep but it was one of the lowest films I've ever seen.

Saving Braveheart of course. I can't make my mind up which was worse.....No definitely Patriot.

Now I come to think of it I will ask nice Mr Russell Crowe if he'll do another one before Mel Gibson think's of it._________________Neither Kings nor Queens nor Royal Marines but 28th. Old Bragg's. Brass before and brass behind never feared a foe of any kind.

Nah - Russell Crowe wasn't a †big enough †bloke to play lucky Jack - but neither was Sean Bean big enough to be Richard Sharpe ! Crowe played it well though.
And Maturin needed to a weasley awkward little chap - totally underestimated but with a brilliant mind.
I did enjoy the film though - most impressed by the cracking opening †scene and good to see the junior officers played by mere boys.
But if they are going to make another Aubrey/Maturin its just got to include Jack disguised as the bear!!_________________"Far the calling bugles hollo,
High the screaming Fife replies,
Gay the files of scarlet follow:
Woman bore me, I will rise"

There's all that has been said above, and I have been to the costume shop in North Hollywood where the clothing from M&C ended up. They were selling off chunks of it. Pretty decent kit, if you wanted to set yourself up as RM or RN on the cheap. I passed on a pair of canvas trousers for $25 (£16.34 to you lot) to wear with my 33rd kit because I have this passion to wear anachronistic wool clothing in unseasonable temperatures.